The Motivation to Take a Healthy Diet

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Brain Structures Influencing Motivation
Intrinsic Factors that Motivate Healthy Eating
Extrinsic Factors That Motivate Healthy Eating
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Eating healthy is a prerequisite to a happy and healthy living since it prevents several disorders and illnesses. The brain has several structures that contribute to healthy eating through initiation and motivation of an individual. Uptake of food involves evolutionary features such as relaxing rejuvenation of endorphins and serotonin mechanism that generates a sense of satisfaction and well-being after taking a meal.

As such, it is important to understand what factors influence brain activity concerning motivation to eat healthily. Various intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the execution of brain in motivating a person to eat a healthy diet. This paper seeks to examine various factors and brain structures that influence the brain to motivate a person to take a healthy diet.

Brain Structures Influencing Motivation

The motivation for healthy eating arises from a combination of structures found in the brain system. Such structures include the hypothalamus, hippocampus as well as the amygdala, which influence the generation of new memories and control feelings that lead to a positive outlook concerning diet alterations (Wickens, 2005). The limbic structure is directly responsible for reward and motivation, a prerequisite factor for changing of diet from an unhealthy to a healthy one. When amygdala gets excited, it leads to remembering new learning and maintaining fresh habits like taking a healthy meal (Wickens, 2005).

Mesolimbic opioid, as well as the dopamine areas, trigger a high appetite for food as well as taking too much food through an injured or malfunctioning hypothalamus can also lead to an increased appetite for food. Dopamine is a chemical transmitter involved in transporting data within the limbic system and is responsible for reward and satisfying feelings. In addition, prefrontal cortex controls impulsive tendencies and assists an individual in making proper judgments concerning the choice of food (Wickens, 2005).

Intrinsic Factors that Motivate Healthy Eating

Genetics

Genetic factors play a role in influencing the capability to indulge in healthy eating. Genetic factors include biological conditions like allergies, despising of certain foods and attachment to cultural foods (Deckers, 2010). An eating disorder is hereditary capable of influencing an individual concerning eating healthy or not eating healthy. The central nervous system is responsible for tasting perceptions and levels of satisfaction while eating yet these differ from one individual to the other due to the disparity in genetic makeup (Deckers, 2010).

Tasting perceptions and feelings of satisfaction affect the intake of meals. Various brain parts like prefrontal cortex control perceptions in an individual through an individual’s choices and experience influence the uptake of food (Wickens, 2005). Intelligence is hereditary too and contributes a lot when it comes to making choices concerning foods. Lack of stress management skills, sadness and boredom have a basis in genetics and can influence how an individual indulges in food (Deckers, 2010).

Serotonin System

People with high levels of serotonin have a tendency to take less food and are better at making proper choices concerning healthy foods. This arises from the fact that serotonin, found in the neural system, generates a feeling of well-being with or without food. Decreased serotonin leads to depression, which in turn leads to increased weight due to high food intake and lack of desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Alterations in the level of serotonin are directly responsible for changes in dieting and can lead to either taking junk food or eating healthy meals (Wickens, 2005).

Extrinsic Factors That Motivate Healthy Eating

Social and Environmental Settings

Every society has expectations on the appearance of individuals especially concerning body size and shape. Such expectations dictate how people handle diets so as to measure up to expectations. For instance, in a society where people despise fat people, individuals will certainly make sure that they cut on their diets to avoid getting big so that society accepts them (Lockyear, 2004). Peers also influence a person’s motivation in eating healthy as the choice of food can possibly isolate an individual from certain social circles.

Psychologists have classified social acceptability as a psychological need and as such, everyone wants to acquire such acceptance. This leads to careful choices of foods to get such acceptance. A physician’s advice greatly influences the type of food an individual takes. For instance, people susceptible to diseases like diabetes are likely to heed advice from a physician to avoid sugary and starchy foods (Lockyear, 2004).

Positive Strengthening

Family and friends are a source of motivation for eating healthy. In most cases, this arises where such family members or friends have a particular pattern of eating arising from culture and traditions. An individual in such circles has no option but to conform to traditions regarding feeding habits and foods accepted in such a society (Hotelling & Liston, 2004). In addition, an individual finds it hard to convince family members and friends already used to taking healthy diets. For instance, in a society that despises junk food, an individual has to stick to traditional foods to avoid backlash from family members and friends.

Conclusion

The brain plays an important role in the motivation of an individual’s choice of eating or not eating healthy through various structures. In addition, various factors contribute to an individual’s behavior concerning the selection of food. Such factors can be either extrinsic or intrinsic.

References

Deckers, L. (2010). Motivation: Biological, Psychological, and Environmental (3rd Edition). Boston: Pearson. Web.

Hotelling, K., & Liston, L. K. (2004). Guidelines for the outpatient management of Individuals with eating disorders in the university setting. Web.

Lockyear, P. L. (2004). Cultural Differences in Diet and Heart Health Among Women: Culture and Diet. Web.

Wickens, A. (2005). Foundations of Biopsychology (2nd Edition). New York: Prentice Hall. Web.

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